Neal Pionk of the Winnipeg Jets has been fined $5,000, the maximum amount allowable under the CBA, for his cross-check on Minnesota Wild center Marcus Johansson, the league announced on Wednesday.
Johansson had just recycled the puck up the boards in the offensive zone with a minute to go in the 3-1 Jets win before a late-arriving Pionk drove his stick under the Swede’s pads and into his ribs. The defenseman was assessed a five-minute major to end his night.
Johansson has been a revelation in his second stint in the Twin Cities. He has six goals and 18 points in 20 games and thankfully does not appear to be any worse for wear.
For the Jets, the Connor Hellebuyck-anchored win locks up playoff hockey against either Las Vegas or Edmonton.
The Wild’s loss continues a so-so run for a team that seems to have gone cold at exactly the wrong time. Locked into the third seed in the Central Division, many of Minnesota’s best players will not travel to Nashville on Thursday.
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